Simultaneous detection of amide and methyl correlations using a time shared NMR experiment: application to binding epitope mapping

Global protein dynamics as communication sensors in peptide synthetase domains

Biological activity is governed by the timely redistribution of molecular interactions, and static structural snapshots often appear insufficient to provide the molecular determinants that choreograph communication. This conundrum applies to multidomain enzymatic systems called nonribosomal peptide synthetases (NRPSs), which assemble simple substrates into complex metabolites, where a dynamic domain organization challenges rational design to produce new pharmaceuticals. Using a nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) atomic-level readout of biochemical transformations, we demonstrate that global structural fluctuations help promote substrate-dependent communication and allosteric responses, and impeding these global dynamics by a point-site mutation hampers allostery and molecular recognition. Our results establish global structural dynamics as sensors of molecular events that can remodel domain interactions, and they provide new perspectives on mechanisms of allostery, protein communication, and NRPS synthesis.

Broadband homodecoupled time-shared 1H-13C and 1H-15N HSQC experiments

The concepts of pure-shift NMR and time-shared NMR are merged in a single experiment. A ¹³C/¹⁵N time-shared version of the real-time BIRD-based broadband homodecoupled HSQC experiment is described. This time-efficient approach affords simultaneously ¹H-¹³C and ¹H-¹⁵N pure-shift HSQC spectra in a single acquisition, while achieving substantial gains in both sensitivity and spectral resolution. We also present a related ¹³C/¹⁵N-F2-coupled homodecoupled version of the CLIP-HSQC experiment for the simultaneous measurement of ¹J_CH and ¹J_NH from the simplified doublets observed along the direct dimension. Finally, a novel J-resolved HSQC experiment has been designed for the simple and automated determination of both ¹J_CH/¹J_NH from a 2D J-resolved spectrum.

Multiplexed Real-Time NMR GTPase Assay for Simultaneous Monitoring of Multiple Guanine Nucleotide Exchange Factor Activities from Human Cancer Cells and Organoids

Small GTPases (sGTPases) are critical switch-like regulators that mediate several important cellular functions and are often mutated in human cancers. They are activated by guanine nucleotide exchange factors (GEFs), which specifically catalyze the exchange of GTP for GDP. GEFs coordinate signaling networks in normal cells, and are frequently deregulated in cancers. sGTPase signaling pathways are complex and interconnected; however, most GEF assays do not reveal such complexity. In this Communication, we describe the development of a unique real-time NMR-based multiplexed GEF assay that employs distinct isotopic labeling schemes for each sGTPase protein to enable simultaneous observation of six proteins of interest. We monitor nucleotide exchange of KRas, Rheb, RalB, RhoA, Cdc42 and Rac1 in a single system, and assayed the activities of GEFs in lysates of cultured human cells and 3D organoids derived from pancreatic cancer patients. We observed potent activation of RhoA by lysates of HEK293a cells transfected with GEF-H1, along with weak stimulation of Rac1, which we showed is indirect. Our functional analyses of pancreatic cancer-derived organoids revealed higher GEF activity for RhoA than other sGTPases, in line with RNA-seq data indicating high expression of RhoA-specific GEFs.

A suite of pulse sequences based on multiple sequential acquisitions at one and two radiofrequency channels for solid-state magic-angle spinning NMR studies of proteins

One of the fundamental challenges in the application of solid-state NMR is its limited sensitivity, yet a majority of experiments do not make efficient use of the limited polarization available. The loss in polarization in a single acquisition experiment is mandated by the need to select out a single coherence pathway. In contrast, sequential acquisition strategies can encode more than one pathway in the same experiment or recover unused polarization to supplement a standard experiment. In this article, we present pulse sequences that implement sequential acquisition strategies on one and two radiofrequency channels with a combination of proton and carbon detection to record multiple experiments under magic-angle spinning. We show that complementary 2D experiments such as [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] or DARR and [Formula: see text], and 3D experiments such as [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text], or [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text]  can be combined in a single experiment to ensure time savings of at least 40 %. These experiments can be done under fast or slow-moderate magic-angle spinning frequencies aided by windowed [Formula: see text] acquisition and homonulcear decoupling. The pulse sequence suite is further expanded by including pathways that allow the recovery of residual polarization, the so-called 'afterglow' pathways, to encode a number of pulse sequences to aid in assignments and chemical-shift mapping.

A 3D time-shared NOESY experiment designed to provide optimal resolution for accurate assignment of NMR distance restraints in large proteins

Structure determination of proteins by solution NMR has become an established method, but challenges increase steeply with the size of proteins. Notably, spectral crowding and signal overlap impair the analysis of cross-peaks in NOESY spectra that provide distance restraints for structural models. An optimal spectral resolution can alleviate overlap but requires prohibitively long experimental time with existing methods. Here we present a time-shared 3D experiment optimized for large proteins that provides ¹⁵N and ¹³C dispersed NOESY spectra in a single measurement. NOESY correlations appear in the detected dimension and hence benefit from the highest resolution achievable of all dimensions without increase in experimental time. By design, this experiment is inherently optimal for non-uniform sampling acquisition when compared to current alternatives. Thus, ¹⁵N and ¹³C dispersed NOESY spectra with ultra-high resolution in all dimensions were acquired in parallel within about 4 days instead of 80 days for a 52 kDa monomeric protein at a concentration of 350 μM.

Time-shared experiments for efficient assignment of triple-selectively labeled proteins

Combinatorial triple-selective labeling facilitates the NMR assignment process for proteins that are subject to signal overlap and insufficient signal-to-noise in standard triple-resonance experiments. Aiming at maximum amino-acid type and sequence-specific information, the method represents a trade-off between the number of selectively labeled samples that have to be prepared and the number of spectra to be recorded per sample. In order to address the demand of long measurement times, we here propose pulse sequences in which individual phase-shifted transients are stored separately and recombined later to produce several 2D HN(CX) type spectra that are usually acquired sequentially. Sign encoding by the phases of (13)C 90° pulses allows to either select or discriminate against (13)C' or (13)C(α) spins coupled to (15)N. As a result, (1)H-(15)N correlation maps of the various isotopomeric species present in triple-selectively labeled proteins are deconvoluted which in turn reduces problems due to spectral overlap. The new methods are demonstrated with four different membrane proteins with rotational correlation times ranging from 18 to 52 ns.

Practical aspects of NMR signal assignment in larger and challenging proteins

NMR has matured into a technique routinely employed for studying proteins in near physiological conditions. However, applications to larger proteins are impeded by the complexity of the various correlation maps necessary to assign NMR signals. This article reviews the data analysis techniques traditionally employed for resonance assignment and describes alternative protocols necessary for overcoming challenges in large protein spectra. In particular, simultaneous analysis of multiple spectra may help overcome ambiguities or may reveal correlations in an indirect manner. Similarly, visualization of orthogonal planes in a multidimensional spectrum can provide alternative assignment procedures. We describe examples of such strategies for assignment of backbone, methyl, and nOe resonances. We describe experimental aspects of data acquisition for the related experiments and provide guidelines for preliminary studies. Focus is placed on large folded monomeric proteins and examples are provided for 37, 48, 53, and 81 kDa proteins.

NMR methods for structural studies of large monomeric and multimeric proteins

NMR structural studies of large monomeric and multimeric proteins face distinct challenges. In large monomeric proteins, the common occurrence of frequency degeneracies between residues impedes unambiguous assignment of NMR signals. To overcome this barrier, nonuniform sampling (NUS) is used to measure spectra with optimal resolution within reasonable time, new correlation maps resolve previous impasses in assignment strategies, and novel selective methyl labeling schemes provide additional structural probes without cluttering NMR spectra. These advances push the limits of NMR studies of large monomeric proteins. Large multimeric and multidomain proteins are studied by NMR when individual components can also be studied by NMR and have known structures. The structural properties of large assemblies are obtained by identifying binding surfaces, by orienting domains, and employing limited distance constraints. Segmental labeling and the combination of NMR with other methods have helped popularize NMR studies of such systems.

Time-shared HSQC-NOESY for accurate distance constraints measured at high-field in (15)N-(13)C-ILV methyl labeled proteins

We present a time-shared 3D HSQC-NOESY experiment that enables one to simultaneously record (13)C- and (15)N-dispersed spectra in Ile, Leu and Val (ILV) methyl-labeled samples. This experiment is designed to delineate the two spectra which would otherwise overlap with one another when acquired together. These spectra display nOe correlations in the detected proton dimension, i.e. with maximum resolution. This is in contrast to NOESY-HSQC types of experiments that provide cross-peaks in the indirect dimension with low resolution due to limits in experimental time. The technique is particularly advantageous at high field where even longer experimental times would be required for comparable resolution in NOESY-HSQC experiments. The method is demonstrated at 900 MHz and at 750 MHz on 37 and 31 kDa proteins, respectively. The resolution and time saving provided in this experiment was crucial for solving the structures of these two proteins.

Identification of HN-methyl NOEs in large proteins using simultaneous amide-methyl TROSY-based detection

A pair of HN-methyl NOESY experiments that are based on simultaneous TROSY-type detection of amide and methyl groups is described. The preservation of cross-peak symmetry in the simultaneous (1)H-(15)N/(13)CH(3) NOE spectra enables straightforward assignments of HN-methyl NOE cross-peaks in large and complex protein structures. The pulse schemes are designed to preserve the slowly decaying components of both (1)H-(15)N and methyl (13)CH(3) spin-systems in the course of indirect evolution (t (2)) and acquisition period (t (3)) of 3D NOESY experiments. The methodology has been tested on {U-[(15)N,(2)H]; Iledelta1-[(13)CH(3)]; Leu,Val-[(13)CH(3),(12)CD(3)]}-labeled 82-kDa enzyme Malate Synthase G (MSG). A straightforward procedure that utilizes the symmetry of NOE cross-peaks in the time-shared 3D NOE data sets allows unambiguous assignments of more than 300 HN-methyl interactions in MSG from a single 3D data set providing important structural restraints for derivation of the backbone global fold.